WW1 anniversary: Peace vigils on 4 August

Monday, 4 August, is the
100th anniversary of the start of World War One, "the war to
end all wars". Peace Movement Aotearoa, in association with
Quakers, is coordinating nation-wide candle-lit vigils on 4
August, in conjunction with peace and faith groups in other
parts of the world who will be holding vigils to mark the
anniversary and to highlight our mutual belief that conflict
must be resolved peacefully rather than by war.

The peace
vigils have three themes: remembrance of
all of the casualties of war and of war resisters,
ending war as a response to conflict, and
promoting peace. There are four core
messages that will be the same at all of the vigils,
including the central message 'Honour the war dead
by ending war', which unites the three themes.

Details of the WW1 anniversary peace vigils around the
country are available below and online at www.ww1.org.nz If you would like to mark
the anniversary and cannot get along to a vigil or there
isn't one in your area, please consider lighting a candle at
6pm on Monday, 4 August, in solidarity with all who resist
war and promote peace.

Candlelit peace vigils on
Monday, 4 August:

• Hokianga -
Candlelit peace vigil at 6pm, at the Opononi boat ramp.
Please bring your own candle, placards and banners will be
available at the vigil. Organised by Hokianga Catholic
Workers.

• Auckland - Candlelit peace
vigil from 6pm to 6.30pm, at the Devonport War Memorial,
corner Victoria Street and King Edward Parade, Devonport.
Please bring your own candle, placards and banners will be
available at the vigil. Organised by the Women's
International League for Peace and Freedom and Pax
Christi.

• Hamilton - Candlelit peace
vigil, at 6pm in front of the Hamilton City Library in
Garden Place. Organised by Hamilton Quakers, in conjunction
with AVP Maori Focus.

• Gisborne - Lest
we forget: candle light vigil for peace, gather at 5.30pm at
the Wi Pere Memorial on Reads Quay (on the corner of Lowe
Street), to walk as a group over Peel Street Bridge to the
site of the Statue of the Soldier. Please bring a candle in
a jar, an LED candle, a glowstick, a torch, any safe light
to illuminate the dark. Organised by the Tairawhiti
Interfaith Group.

• Napier - Light a
candle for peace / prayer vigil, from 12 noon to 12.30pm, St
John's Cathedral, 28 Browning Street. You are invited to
bring your own prayers / reflections to share with others,
the emphasis is on remembering, on praying for an end to all
war and for the promotion of the peaceful resolution of all
conflict. People of all faiths and churches are invited to
bring their own prayers or reflections to share with others.
Organised by the Cathedral Environment, Justice and Peace
Network.

• Otaki - Candlelit peace
vigil from 6pm to 6.30pm at the Otaki War Memorial, 6 Main
Street, next to the Otaki theatre. Organised by Kapiti
Quakers and Otaki Catholic Workers.

•
Wellington - Candlelit peace vigil from 6pm to
6.30pm at the Cenotaph, corner Bowen Street and Lambton
Quay. Please bring your own candle, placards and banners
will be available at the vigil. Organised by Peace Movement
Aotearoa.

• Blenheim - Lest we forget:
candlelit peace vigil at 6pm at the Seymour Square Memorial,
help to find an alternative to war to solve our differences.
Organised by Blenheim Quakers.

• Nelson
- Candlelit peace vigil from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at the
Cathedral Steps, Trafalgar Street. Please being your candle
to mark the anniversary and to highlight our collective
belief that conflict must be resolved peacefully rather than
by war. Organised by Nelson Quakers.

•
Takaka - Silent candlelit vigil at 6pm on Village
Green, with an earlier gathering there for information
sharing at 12.30pm. Organised by Golden Bay
Quakers.

• Dunedin - Candlelit
procession at 5.45pm from First Church, 415 Moray Place, to
the Cenotaph, Queens Gardens - the candlelit peace vigil
will be at 6pm at the Cenotaph and will include a time of
silence and speakers. Organised by Dunedin Quakers, in
conjunction with the National Centre for Peace and Conflict
Studies.

• Invercargill - Details will
be available at www.ww1.org.nz when confirmed.

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